Staff Reporter :
The country’s ready-made garment sector recorded export growth in the first half of the fiscal year, despite recent unrest and dissatisfaction.
In the first six months of the 2024-25 fiscal year (July-December), garment exports grew by 13.28 per cent, reaching $19.88 billion.
According to statistics published by the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), based on data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the apparel sector remained the largest contributor to total exports, accounting for 81 per cent.
EPB data indicates that Bangladesh exported a total of $24.53 billion worth of goods to the global market during this period, with ready-made garments accounting for $19.88 billion. In contrast, apparel exports in the same period of the 2023-24 fiscal year stood at $17.56 billion.
The anti-discrimination movement that intensified in July affected industrial areas, leading to production disruptions. Even after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August, unrest and dissatisfaction persisted. However, despite these challenges, garment industry entrepreneurs and workers maintained production and export activities.
In December alone, Bangladesh exported goods worth $4.62 billion, compared to $3.93 billion in the same month of 2023, marking a 17.72 per cent increase.
EPB data further shows that the export value of ready-made garments in December stood at $3.77 billion. Of this, woven garment exports were valued at $1.87 billion, while knitwear exports amounted to $1.89 billion.
Meanwhile, from July to December, the export value of woven ready-made garments reached $9.05 billion, while knitwear exports stood at $10.83 billion.
